Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin My three kids adore rolling their luggage through hotels and when they’re excited about their bags, our travels tend to go more smoothly. The best kids luggage is durable, correctly-sized for your kiddo and visually appealing to them. It’s also helpful when the luggage has extra useful features for kids, like ride-on capability or storage compartments for organization. With its abundance of features—including organizational compartments, a laundry bag and a TSA-approved lock—the Away Kids Carry-On is our top pick. The best kids luggage is durable and kid-friendly so they'll actually want to use it. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS My own kids and I have personally used many of the suitcases on this list, and we spoke to frequent traveler parents as well as two travel experts to help narrow down our list. My kids also played with them extensively, the ultimate test of durability. After thorough research, combined with real-world testing, here are our picks for the best kids luggage. Best Kids Luggage Overall For Younger Kids: Away Kids Carry-On Best Kids Luggage Overall For Older Kids: Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Carry-On Luggage Best Kids Luggage Upgrade: July Carry On Light Expandable Best Hardside Luggage For Kids: Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Hard-Sided Luggage Best Softside Luggage For Kids: State Logan Carry-On Suitcase Best Kids Luggage Set: Travelers Club Five-Piece Kids' Luggage Set Best Value Kids Luggage: Rockland Jr. Kids' My First Hardside Spinner Luggage Best Kids Carry-On Luggage: Stokke JetKids Bedbox Best Kids Luggage Overall For Younger Kids Packed With Features Away Kids Carry-On Dimensions: 19.1 x 12.8 x 8.9 inches | Weight: 6.4 pounds | Colors: 5 colors | Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty I’ve been testing the new Away Kids Carry-On since its release, and I’ve been impressed with the overall quality and abundance of features. The thoughtfully designed luggage includes interior compression, a laundry bag, a silicone luggage tag, a TSA-approved combination lock and multiple interior pockets. These features can make it easier for kids to not only pack everything they need but to keep it organized, too. In addition to the fun, bright colors the suitcase comes in, you can also add personalization, which is exciting for young kids who are learning to recognize their names. It’s really easy to maneuver with 360-degree spinner wheels, which roll really smoothly in my experience. An adjustable trolley handle that has multiple positions makes it easy for kids of any height—and their parents—to pull the luggage. The suitcase comes with a cleaning sponge similar to a Magic Eraser so you can keep it looking nice. However, I found that it scuffed a bit easier than some of the other suitcases I’ve used. We still think it’s the best overall thanks to its smooth maneuverability and wide variety of features, but if you want something that will still look new after multiple trips, you might want to try one of our other picks. Best Kids Luggage Overall For Older Kids A Durable Full-Size Carry-On Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Carry-On Luggage Dimensions: 13.6 x 9.5 x 20.9 inches | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Colors: 5 colors/patterns | Warranty: Optional 3- or 4-year protection plan at additional cost Older kids may not want a cutesy suitcase, and they probably need a little bit more room than most traditional kids’ luggage offers. We like the Amazon Basics 21-Inch Hardside Spinner because it’s a true carry-on they can continue to use for years to come. It also comes in a few aesthetic colors like rose gold and orange, so they don’t have to stick to the more muted colors of most traditional suitcases. The suitcase has multiple interior pockets for easy organization. It also has multi-directional wheels and a telescoping handle so kids can easily maneuver it. Even though two of my kids tested this as toddlers, they had no problem maneuvering it, and there was more than enough room for all of their clothes and other items. In addition to testing this suitcase with my kids, my husband has taken it on quite a few business trips, proving it’s an option that will grow with kids as they transition to adulthood. Forbes Vetted deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala has also used this suitcase with her kids, and says it has held up well on several long trips, including a cross-country flight. The scratch-resistant hard shell helps keep it in good shape through various trips and it’s expandable, giving them that extra room they need as they grow. Best Kids Luggage Upgrade Glides Effortlessly And Fits Plenty Of Items July Carry On Light Expandable Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.17 x 9.65 inches (when expanded) | Weight: 4.9 pounds | Colors: 9 colors/patterns | Warranty: Lifetime warranty on defects Any concerns about your kids being able to maneuver their luggage are gone with the incredibly lightweight (it’s less than 5 pounds) July Carry On Light Expandable. The 360-degree spinner wheels help the whole thing glide effortlessly. Most kids don’t need a sleek suitcase like this, but if that’s your priority, it’s the best choice. It’s an investment, but its expandable design, true carry-on size and generous lifetime warranty ensure it will be around for years. I’ve been using the similar July Carry On Essential with my kids for about a year, and it’s one of my favorite suitcases. Extra features on the light expandable suitcase include a TSA lock and zipper compartments to help keep small items like socks and underwear easy to find. Kids will like personalizing their luggage and choosing from nine colors, including navy and blush pink. Best Hardside Luggage For Kids Cute Designs And Personalization Options Pottery Barn Kids Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Hard-Sided Luggage Dimensions: 13 x 8.5 x 19 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Colors: 10 colors/patterns | Warranty: 30-day return window Pottery Barn Kids is known for their backpacks, lunchboxes and other kids’ items that are beautifully designed and personalizable. The Mackenzie Hard-Sided Luggage is no exception; it’s available in 10 kid-friendly colors and patterns that you can personalize with names, initials and even some graphics. You can also find matching accessories like duffle bags and water bottles. The suitcase has a waterproof and weather-resistant exterior to keep their belongings dry and the exterior looking fresh. The sleek, rounded design looks less utilitarian than other suitcases and may be more appealing to kids than traditional suitcases. Witg an adjustable handle and 360-degree spinner wheels, it’s easy for kids to maneuver. Regrettably, there isn’t a warranty for this suitcase, only a 30-day return window. Best Softside Luggage For Kids Intelligently Designed To Make Traveling Easier State Logan Carry-On Suitcase Dimensions: 18.7 x 13.4 x 9.45 inches | Weight: 6.4 pounds | Colors: 7 colors/patterns | Warranty: 1-year warranty for material or manufacturing defects Some parents may worry about soft-sided luggage being less durable, but after personally testing this suitcase for over a year, it has held up really well. Forbes Vetted editor and family travel writer Esther Carlstone agrees: “They still look great after dozens of travels over three years,” she says of the multiple State Logan suitcases she owns. The exterior is water-resistant, and while we wouldn’t recommend leaving it out in the rain, it will easily keep things dry while briefly walking in wet conditions, if necessary. In addition to taking it on trips, my kids also play with it at home, and it’s still in great shape. The Logan is recommended for kids ages 6 and up, and there’s a mini version for kids ages 3 to 5 if you’re looking for something a bit smaller. The suitcase boasts lots of helpful features like exterior straps for water bottles or other items, a front pocket with pencil holders, various interior pockets, an adjustable handle and 360-degree spinner wheels. “My kids are obsessed with the fun designs and kid-friendly compartments like the ‘stuffy straps’ as my youngest calls it. I love how much it fits inside and how durable they’ve been,” says Carlstone. It has top and side carry handles, too, so you can grab it whichever way is easiest. With seven fun colors and patterns including a thunderbolt pattern and pink and silver, there’s something for every kid. Best Kids Luggage Set Includes A Luggage Tag And Neck Pillow Travelers Club Five-Piece Kids' Luggage Set Dimensions: 12 x 19 x 18 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Colors: 13 colors/patterns | Warranty: 2-year limited warranty My kids and I have been testing this luggage set for a couple of years and it remains their favorite, largely thanks to the kid-friendly design. Though it’s a more cost-effective option, it has also proved very durable. We took it on a cross-country road trip, packing and unpacking repeatedly, loading and unloading the car nonstop—and the luggage held up beautifully. It hardly has any scratches and is still in great condition. It also garnered many comments from fellow travelers about how adorable it was to see my kids pull their own luggage. The luggage set includes a suitcase, a backpack, a lunch box, a luggage tag and a neck pillow in 13 designs, including “cool dog” and ice cream. Inside, there are a few different pockets to help your kids organize their belongings. Given the fun designs and its compact size, it’s best for toddlers or preschoolers. It also tips over relatively easily, which isn’t something that typically happens with higher-end suitcases. Best Value Kids Luggage Size And Design Is Appealing To Toddlers Rockland Jr. Kids' My First Hardside Spinner Luggage Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 19 inches | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Colors: 8 colors/patterns | Warranty: 5-year warranty It doesn’t get much more kid-centric than the Rockland Jr. Kids’ My First Hardside Spinner Luggage, which comes shaped like various animals, including a frog, shark or turtle. The details of the thoughtful design include a matching luggage tag and functional zipper pulls. The rubber grips help kids independently open and close their suitcase. The suitcase is on the smaller side, making it ideal for toddlers and preschoolers. With 360-degree spinning wheels and an adjustable handlebar, they can maneuver it easily. To help little ones organize their bag while they’re packing, there’s a zipper compartment as well as elastic straps. Best Kids Carry-On Luggage Makes Flying More Comfortable For Kids Stokke JetKids Bedbox Dimensions: 7.9 x 15.4 x 18.5 inches | Weight: 6.6 pounds | Colors: 6 colors | Warranty: 2-year warranty A suitcase kids can ride on that also transforms into a bed on the plane? Sign me up. The Stokke Jetkids Bedbox comes with a mattress that helps transform the suitcase into a bed, and all of the parts nest inside the suitcase. Parents who are concerned about safety will be happy to learn that kids can wear their seatbelt while using the bed, even in the lying down position. Both experts we spoke to recommend the Stokke Jetkids Bedbox. “It’s sturdy and easily maneuverable by both kids and parents, so it eliminates the need to also take a stroller for kids that are old enough to sit on the suitcase,” says Marianne Perez Fransius, the CEO of Bébé Voyage, an online community for traveling families. It also comes with stickers so kids can personalize their luggage. The fun and unique features make getting to the destination almost as fun as being there. Both Perez Fransius and Lindsay Myers, a travel expert and Access Hollywood contributor, tout it as a durable option. It’s “strong, durable and gives them a fun ride,” says Myers. Perez Fransius explains that the top opening makes it easy to get items out mid-flight. After testing this suitcase, I definitely recommend it as a carry-on due to the airplane-friendly features and because there’s limited room inside the suitcase. Rather than think of this as your kid’s sole suitcase, think of it as a tool to make air travel easier and to pack in-flight essentials, but plan on another suitcase or extra room in your own luggage for your child’s clothes and other belongings. RECOMMENDED BYFORBES VETTED The 7 Best Travel Strollers, After Rigorously Testing 21 Options Alicia Betz The Best Luggage For International Travel, Tested Abroad By Our Editors Astrid Taran Why Trust Forbes Vetted At Forbes Vetted, the baby and kids gear team spends countless hours testing and researching products, from the best travel cribs to the top baby travel essentials. Alicia Betz, the author of this article is an experienced parenting reporter and product tester. She’s also the mom to three and has taken six of the suitcases on our list on various trips. Esther Carlstone, who oversees this article, is also a mom to three and an experienced parenting and travel journalist and editor. She frequently travels with her kids and has used over a dozen types of suitcases along the way. We interviewed Marianne Perez Fransius, the CEO of Bébé Voyage, an online community for traveling families and Lindsay Myers, a travel expert and Access Hollywood contributor, where she shares travel and lifestyle tips. How We Chose The Best Kids Luggage To find the best kids luggage, we took suitcases on various trips with our kids. ALICIA BETZ FOR FORBES Curating a list of the best luggage for kids required a lot of thorough research and real-world testing. We also compared specs such as size and weight. We researched popular luggage brands for kids and considered carry-ons and kids versions of the best luggage brands. We tested many of our picks on trips with our own kids, with Betz taking many of the suitcases on overnight trips. We evaluated how the luggage held up over time and how practical it was for our kids to pack and use the luggage. To choose models that work for various needs and budgets, we included different types of luggage in a range of prices. We compared specs and looked for luggage that offers innovative features to make travel with kids easier, such as ride-on components and unique storage compartments. What To Look For In The Best Kids Luggage Kid-Friendly Designs As with anything, kids will like their luggage more when they get to pick out a fun color or design. “If they don’t like the color or if it’s too heavy for them, then you're going to get stuck carrying their suitcase (and maybe them),” says Perez Fransius. Whether it’s their favorite character or color, or even personalizing the exterior with their name or initials, a kid-friendly design can increase their chances of wanting to use their suitcase. To ensure your child actually wants to use their luggage, look for prints and colors that excite ... More them. ALICIA BETZ FOR FORBES “The last thing you want is for your kid to have a meltdown in the airport because a wheel popped off their suitcase or the zipper doesn’t close properly,” says Perez Fransius. You also don’t want the contents of your child’s luggage spilling all over if the zipper splits or the material comes apart. Look for luggage that is made of high-quality materials and consider how long the warranty is so you can address any issues that may arise. When considering the size, think both about the size of your child and how much they need to fit in their suitcase. You want something that they can easily manage but also has enough room for all of their belongings. Some luggage designed for kids is pretty small and is best for toddlers and preschoolers, while other options like full-size carry-ons have more room. “Think small and mobile but fits all the ‘emergency-while-in-the-air items,’” says Myers. “This is going to be items like stuffed animals, snacks, books and tablets.” Organization Pockets and separated compartments can help your child keep their belongings organized in their luggage so you don’t have to pull everything out to find one thing. Many suitcases have zipper compartments inside, and some have extra features like exterior pockets and compression straps. Maneuverability There are two main factors to consider here: wheels and handles. The best kids luggage options have a telescoping handle and 360-degree spinner wheels. Both of these factors make the luggage easier for kids (and parents) to maneuver, which can prevent meltdowns and help travel go more smoothly. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The best luggage for kids is durable and has a kid-friendly design. We like the Away Kids Carry-On because it has intuitive features like a laundry bag and TSA-approved lock and it comes in fun bright colors kids will like. Both types of luggage can work for kids, provided they’re durable. A high-quality softsided suitcase can be just as durable as a high-quality hardsided suitcase. Ultimately, it’s more important to consider things like organization, maneuverability and whether your kid will actually like the suitcase or not. When it comes to size, you want something that can hold your child’s belongings but that they can also wheel around themselves. For older kids, a regular carry-on will likely be the best size. For younger kids, look for suitcases that hold around 20 liters. Send me a secure tip. Alicia Betz Editorial Standards Reprints & Permissions